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Friday, March 6, 2009

Book Review

The Rock And The River
Kekla Magoon
YA
304 pages
Aladdin

The year is 1968, a time when the national landscape is rife with demands for social and political change. It is a tumultuous time not only on a national scale but within the once solid and comfortable home of Roland Childs, civil rights lawyer and confidant of Dr. King. For Sam and Stick (Steven), the sons of the prominent figure, that year marks pivotal moments in their own lives, a time of irrevocable change. This year, Stick, the oldest decides he can no longer follow his father’s nonviolence path to justice, and he joins ranks with the young, radical Black Panther movement. Sam, the obedient son, is torn between his loyalties to his brother and father.

When they were children, Stick would reread Sam’s favorite story about the rock and the river. As a boy, Sam was certain who was the rock in their relationship, but when Stick joins the Panthers, Sam is no longer sure about anything. The more Stick closes him off, the more Sam pushes back. Sam is driven to prove he is his brother’s peer, that he, too, can affect change. But Sam struggles to find his way. In fact, his growth comes at significant costs.

review continued here.

3 comments:

Doret said...

This makes me want to read The Rock and the River all over again. It is a great book.

susan said...

Thanks for giving it to me, Doret. I couldn't stop thinking how lucky I was that you didn't send my first choice. This was the prize.

Terry Doherty said...

This sounds like a fascinating story. Boy, my TBR is never going to get smaller! I've added this one to my "get it done in 09" pile!